Recommendations

The academic literature is prolific in suggestions to minimize potential ethical dilemmas while accessing EHRs (Myers et al., 2008; Simpson, 2005; Wynia & Dunn, 2010). These recommendations are designed to support health care workers, leaders and policy creators as they face the ethical challenges of accessing electronic health records (Layman, 2008). These proposed solutions can be categorized and summarized under the areas of ethical concern discussed previously.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Creation and adherence to public and institution policy on the protection of remotely accessed health records. This includes policy prohibiting the long-term storage of sensitive data on remote access devices and policy on the expunging of data appropriately (Myers et al., 2008)

Adopt the use of wallet sized “smart cards” which activate a particular remote device (according to Myers et al., 2008 there is less likelihood of misplacing these compared to the standard remote technology)